Pages

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Interview with Morgan St. Knight

What inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always enjoyed writing. I spent 25
years working as a journalist, but there’s a big difference between sticking to
the facts and writing fantasy. After leaving journalism, I wanted the joy of
creating my own world, on my own terms, with the understanding that it is fantasy.

Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a
true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

Ye gods, I hope this isn’t close to
ANYONE’S life experience! Most of the things in the book are on my fantasy
bucket list though: fighting a rogue god, raising dead men back to life, flying
across the sky in a fiery chariot drawn by dragons, and the seduction scene
that takes place in Medea’s basement. Yeah, that one’s definitely on my list. Nothing
spices up hot sex like a little sacrilege. I wrote the book in first person
from Medea’s standpoint for a reason.

What books/authors have influenced your life?

“D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths” captured
my interest when I was in second grade, and sent me on a lifelong path of
studying and loving Greek mythology. Anton LaVey’s “The Satanic Bible” heavily
influenced me as a teen, since it gave me a new perspective on organized
religion and taught me that I shouldn’t just accept everything promulgated by
mainstream religion. And Quentin Crisp’s “The Naked Civil Servant” helped me
realize that you have to be who you are, because that’s the only workable
choice. Being anything or anyone else is just pointless, and you might as well
not even be.

What book are you reading now?

I read several at a time. Right now I’m
reading “The Compass of Zen”, which is a book of teachings by a Korean Zen
master, “The Girl in the Red Tunic” by Alys Clare, and an updated version of
“26 Daemons” by the Sorceress Cagliastro.

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

The sequel to “Curse of Prometheus” is
well underway, and so is a spinoff series based on a character introduced in
the sequel.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

The sequel is taking up most of my time,
but I can’t divulge too much since it’s a continuation of the plot from “Curse
of Prometheus” and I don’t want to give spoilers for the first book. What I can say is that the spinoff series
focuses on an African-American woman who, like Medea, is a powerful witch, but
in a different magical tradition. People can learn more about my work at www.talesofmedea.com

Is there anything you find particularly challenging
in your writing?

Obsessing over rewrites, pare-downs,
continuity. As a former copy editor it’s really hard not to get caught up in
the details. I have to force myself let it go. Nothing is perfect. There will
be typos. I see them all the time in hard-copy books and eBooks. I have to make myself be OK with the fact
that they will be in my books too. But it’s hard.

Do you have to travel much to do research for your
books?

I write based on what I know, but I made some
day trips here and there to ensure I got the settings right for some of the scenes
in “Curse of Prometheus” and the sequel.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Decide whether you are writing for
yourself or writing as a business. Sometimes it can be both. If you are writing
as a business, understand that there are concessions you may need to make so
that the book sells. But if you are writing for yourself, write the book YOU
want to write. Don’t be swayed by people who say: “It doesn’t seem believable”
or “I don’t get it.” For every person who says those things, there will be many
others who disagree and like what you’ve written. Take advice from other
writers, agents and editors with a grain of salt (unless they are YOUR agent of
editor, but even then, follow your heart and don’t let them talk you into
something that doesn’t make you proud).

Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that
you think represents this book?

When I think about the main theme of the
book, a god drinking human blood to get stronger and going mad in the process,
I think of the song “Lose in Wanting” by the electronica band Iris. (YouTube
links below) There’s another song they do, “Hell’s Coming with Me” that was playing
in my head as I wrote the scene where Medea heads into battle with the rogue
god.

I also thought about Blondie’s “Do the
Dark” when thinking about this rogue god trying to establish a blood cult on
Earth.

The ancient world's most notorious sorceress has just become the modern world's only hope for survival.

Book Description:

How do you fight a god of light who has been seduced by darkness? That’s the challenge Medea Keres must meet. Posing as a wealthy young heiress in modern day Atlanta, no one knows she is the original Medea, the sorceress from ancient Greek legends.

As priestess of the witch goddess Hecate, Medea is charged with hunting demons that would otherwise overrun the world. Now she must face a far greater adversary. One of the twelve shining Olympian gods has turned rogue, violating the edict against human sacrifice. As the body count quickly rises, Medea knows her enemy is getting stronger.

With the help of the underworld nymph Orphne and the hero-god Heracles, she must find a way to unmask the evil so that the other Olympians will take action.

But as she probes deeper into a blood-soaked labyrinth of suspense and intrigue, Medea finds a net of deceit and treachery that will require all of her cunning to escape.

His
hands found my arms again, but I pulled back slightly so I could take off my
shirt. Knowing exactly where this was going, and having no compunction about
it, I quickly slipped out of my jeans.

He
tentatively raised a hand to touch my stomach, giving me petal-soft caresses.
Odd how such a light touch could make me feel even more urgent...

“Shouldn’t
do this,” he murmured, very unconvincingly. The argument really fell flat when
he reached around my back and drew me down again.

We
explored each other, touching, tasting, each move more certain, more insistent.
Within a few moments I was completely naked, thanks to some surprisingly
skillful moves on his part.

A
low vibration shook through me, and it took a moment to realize it wasn’t just
my response to him. A brief flash of light came from the darkened laundry area
next to the finished portion of the basement, followed by another low thrum.
There were windows in there; it must be a late-season thunderstorm.

His
attentions quickly drew my focus back where it belonged. My breathing was
getting more labored, and his was absolutelyragged.
The hunger quickly grew, and it was as delicious as the method of satisfying it
promised to be.

The
thunder was coming closer and more quickly as the storm intensified. It seemed
to mirror the waves of our passion. He was clinging to me as if he had no other
hold on the world. Maybe, at that moment, he didn’t.

It
was too much. I had to do something—now.

I
moved over him, feeling him ready. He slipped into me easily, so smoothly that
I briefly marveled at it. But that idle musing quickly flew out the window as
rationalthought gave way
to pure sensation. We were moving together now, a tandem race to reach a goal
we both wanted badly. We weren’t separate any longer, but one.

The
lights in the basement flickered just as the first spasms of release began from
deep inside me. Such delightful little tickles, but they quickly intensified
until they were clutching me. We were half-sitting at that point, and suddenly
I felt my insides giving way as I fell back, my legs and arms wrapped around
him, bringing him down on top of me.

I
moaned over and over, a staccato tattoo that made my throat feel raw. The
thunder crashed outside, a counterpoint to my screams. He was groaning too,
deeply, as if he was experiencing pain as well as pleasure.

He
started jerking against my grasp. “No—”

“YES!” I screamed as
my legs pulled him closer. He gave a wordless gasp, then a short cry. Another,
and another. His grip around me tightened, making it nearly impossible for me
to draw in a breath. I felt myself getting lightheaded.

Wave
after wave of release surged through me, concentric circles of pure pleasure.
The thunder outside was so loud now my ears rang.

He
stiffened, and I felt his own release as a scream broke from him. Thunder
crashed again and again as the lights flickered, faded, cameback. His grip was crushing me, but I
didn’t care.

I
could feel hugespasms across
his back, as he bucked and sank into me. But it wasn’t just a normal response.
No, not by a long shot. We were locked in such a tight embrace that I could see
clearly over his shoulder. Slowly, something filled my vision as my body
shuddered from seemingly endless spasms.

Just
before another flash of lightning sent the lights in the room out for good, I
saw an enormous pair of white wings emerging from his back.

About the Author:

Morgan St. Knight live in Atlanta, and is a lifelong student of mythology, the occult, and comparative religion. With more than 25 years of experience as a journalist, Morgan enjoys the occasional foray into fantasyland to escape the grim realities of life. He is currently working on the sequel to "Curse of Prometheus" and is developing a second paranormal series which also takes place in the South.

To win, you just have to follow Morgan on Twitter @MorganStKnight and send a tweet that says "Entering giveaway for CoP". Only one tweet is necessary, but you must send that one tweet to know you're interested in entering the giveaway.

Additionally, Morgan will be giving away 2 copies of "Curse of Prometheus" each week of the tour. Everyone who enters for the Kindle giveaway on a given week is automatically entered for that week's book giveaway.

And yes, if you win a copy of the book, you are still in the running for the Kindle giveaway.